This is such a genius move by PRA! I've thought about this in the past & often wondered why other teams haven't tried this on before. It makes so much sense to split the main drivers & pair them with the other "'customer"' entries as it takes away the double-stack scenario - the drivers all sit in the same debriefs & share data but come race-time you can maximise the results without compromise! I guess having separate title sponsors (Bottle O & Supercheap) helps as I couldn't see T8 or HRT (in the past) doing this with the same title sponsor on both cars splitting into two garages.

Having thought more about splitting Winterbottom & Mostert, I'm not so sure it is a good idea after all. What are they trying to achieve by that? Whilst this ensures they maximise points for the drivers championship (double-stacking is avoided), it pretty much guarantees they won't win the teams championship & in turn will cost them positions in the pit-lane for 2017. Up until this year Winterbottom & Mostert were scoring points for a single team in PRA. Now they will be scoring points for two different teams: Winterbottom/Waters for PRA & Mostert/Pither for RNR/SBR. Having your gun drivers separated in essentially two different teams won't work out well when up against Whincup/Van Gisbergen for T8, Tander/Courtney for HRT, Coulthard/Pye for DJRTP, McLaughlin/Moffat for GRM, etc. So whilst it maximises each driver’s chances in the drivers championship it will hurt your chances in the teams championship.

Prodrive is the first team to unveil a throwback livery for Supercars’ retro themed Sandown 500.

Chaz Mostert and Steve Owen will campaign the colours that Steven Ellery raced with under the Supercheap Auto banner in 2002.

The Supercheap scheme is one of several ‘retro’ looks expected for the event, which Supercars has encouraged teams to embrace.

Ellery in action at the 2002 Clipsal 500

Supercars is also promoting rockabilly bands, themed food vans and prizes for fans who dress in retro clothing.

The category is emphasising the extensive history of Australian touring car racing at Sandown ahead of what could be the final contract extension for the event before redevelopment claims the Melbourne circuit.

Supercheap Auto General Manager of Marketing, David Bauer says the Ellery livery has been chosen for Sandown due to its memorable purple colour.

The 2002 season was a difficult one for Ellery’s family-run team, with the Queenslander finishing 21st in the standings.

“Supercheap Auto are celebrating 20 years in Supercars next year so we had a range of different liveries to choose from but we felt the 2002 livery with the purple was quite memorable,” said Bauer.

Mostert has scored five pole positions this season but heads to Sandown without a win in over 12 months.